A corpobation of



E. G. FRANCK Nov. 19, 1929.

CAR ROOF Filed Jun 15, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 35 5% m i 5: Z @I )w p) 429 z Nov. 19, 1929. E. e. FRANCK GAR ROOF Filed June 15, 1925 2Sheets-Sheet 2 vwento'c 225w??? ijfaa cl Patented Nov. 19, 1929 EDWIN G.FRANCK, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TOHUTCHINS CAR ROOFING COMPANY, 013 DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OFDELAWARE can ROOF Application filed June 15, 1925. Serial No. 37,260. r

This invention relates to car roofs and more particularly to an improvedform of carline and associated structure. I The invention has among itsobjects to simplify, render more efficient, and improve generallyconstructions of this type, and these as well as other objects,advantages, and novel features of construction will be made moreapparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings, wherein r i Figure 1 is afragmentary top plan view of a car roof constructed in-accordance withmy invention and showing progressive steps of assembly,

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentarytransverse sectional View takensubstantially on the plane indicated by the line 22 in Figure 1, s

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation with certain parts removed, and

Figure 4 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken substantially onthe plane inclicated by the line 44 in Figure 1'. t Referring nowparticularly to the drawings wherein like reference characters indicatelike parts it willbe noted that the frame includes side plates 10,purlines 11 and a ridge pole 12. The sides of the car are formed bysheathing 13 suitably connected at the top to the sideplates 10. Thetransverse frame members or carlines 14 are in the form of invertedT-bars having a head or base portion 15 and an upstanding or stemportion 16. The carlines 14 extend from side plate to side plate andengage the purlines and ridge pole in the customary manner. The carlinesand purlines are secured together by' means of bolts 17 which passthrough the inverted head or base portion 15 and through the purlines,while the carlines are'fsecurecl to the ridge pole by means of bolts '18passin throiwh the base attire carline and. through palate a similarmanner. Each purline 11 is preferably transversely notched or recessedas at 19 forthe accommodation or reception of the base 15 of thecarline.

The outer ends of the carlines 14 are secured to the side plates byflanges 20 formed by bending the base 15 angularly and'in a downwarddirection with reference to the general plane thereof, as particularlyshown in Figure 2. The web portion 16 of each carline at the end thereofis preferably out 01f at an angle as shown at 21, thus providing aportion which may be conveniently bent to form the flange 20. Theseflanges lie against the outer face of the side plates 10 and cooperatingtherewith are carline brackets 22 in the form of angle plates which aresecured as for instance by rivets 23 to the base of the carline. Thedownward extending portion of each carline bracket is apertured as isthe flange 20, these apertures registering for the reception of a bolt25 which passes therethrough and through the side plate 10. With thisconstruction the carline is permitted to rest upon the top face of theside plates while the side plate is securely clamped between the flange20' of the carline and the carline bracket 22. The roof sheets 26 arearranged between the spaced carlines 14 in the customary man ner and areprovided with upstanding edge portions 27 joined by intermediateinclined portions 28 to the main portions of the roof sheets. The,intermediate or inclined portions 28 he over the base or inverted headportion of the adjacent carline while the upstanding edge portions 27are arranged sub stantially parallel to the stem portion 16 of thecarline.

The car roof herein shown is of the flexible type so that the roofsheets 26 are not rigidly fixed but are permitted to enjoy a limitedsuflicientspace is provided between the ,Ver-Y ticalywallz of portion311 and stem 16= of the car-line to permit of lateral movement of theroof sheets and consequently of the upstantb l.

ing edge portions 27. The transverse caps are rigidly secured to thecarli-nesby means of rivets or other suitable means 33, see particularlyFigures.

The side edges of the rootsheets are provided with return-bent edges 3-1which engage under the return-bent portions of eaveflashingstrips-*while the transverse caps are taperedoff at=,tl1ei-rends toform fiat portions-36 bent: inwardlyas at 87. to engage under thereturn-bent edges-of the roof sheets; see particularly Figure 2. i

The-running boarc l38 is supported by, run- 'ning boardsaddles 39 in theformof angle plates which are-rivetedorotherwise suitably securedtotheupstandingportion -16 of the-carlines and are secured as by bolts 40to-the-'running boards. In practice the same securing-means33 employedfor-seeui ing thetransverse caps to the carl-ines may be employed forconnecting the running boardsaddles-to thecarlines. I

In Figure 1 the prog ressivesteps of as-r sembly have beenillustrated,it being noted that-at the extremeleit of this figure the carl-ine onlyis illustrated, while 'gill the next carlin'eto the-rightthe edges of:ad-jacent roof-sheets are shown. The nextcarline towards l the right"has associated. therewith the transverse cap 29-whichis placed down overthe upwardly extendingistem orbody portion l6'pof 'theicarlinethusstraddling the icarline and also the upturnediiedges-27 of the root sheets. i The nentvcarlineto the rightihasits 2running board saddlesecured in place, and. asmentioned hereinbei'orethe rivets; or v thefastening means. 33, normally employed for securing the transverse capto the carline, may be employed tadj acent the ridge polei for alsosecuring the running board saddle in place.

Thus it will be readily apparentthaitlwith a "construction as abovedescribed the a assembly-of the: roof is not only facilitatedbutlarigidnnd durable-construction is ob tained. Thel inverted T-shapedxcarlines adapt themselves admirably to association with theremainingelements of the frame and have sufficient inherent rigidity to impartthe necessary strength and durability theretO. i

While one specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed in some detail, it will be readily apparent that variouschanges and modifications in the specific details of construction may beresorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of thisinvention and to this end reservation vis 'Inade to.,.make such changesas may come within the purview of the accompanying claims.

What I claim as myinvention'is z.

1. In. a fiexiblelcar roof, a skeleton frame including carlines formedof LTba'rs,- roofing sheets arranged between said carlines, transversecaps engaging the stems of said T-bars and s'aidroofing-sheets, andmeans for rigidly securing said caps to the stems of said T- bars atpoints intermediate-the ridge and eaves of the can;

2. Ina flexible car roof a frame including carlines. formed of invertedT-b'ars, A roofing sheets arranged between said carlines "withthe-edgesthereof ;over-lying-the;basesof said T bagrs, and a transversecapembracingand rigidly secured to; thelongitudinal "stem 'of eachcar'lineat points intermediate the ridge and-- the eaves of the carandresiliently en? 7 adjacent roofing sheets:

3. In a car roof, a frame including earlines formed ofi-n'verted T-bars;roofing sheets 'arranged-between said c-arlines having-portionsoverlying the bases -of-said l' 'bars; andaa transverse cap for eachcarline; secured; tothecentral web. thereof the said cap being providedwith portions embracing said web and with-"additional portions spacedfrom said web and engaging the said portions-of adja'c'ient: roofin'sheets, which 1 overlie the bases of the T are,thesaidnroofing sheetshaving-edge portions: arrangedbetween the said central web and theportionsofthe cap spaced therefrom and in spaced parallel rela tion tothe same. .4

4. In a car roof, a frame including .carlines formed of inverted.T-'bars,- roofingsheetsarranged between said carlines having ofiset-inclinedportions arranged in overlyingispaced relation .to the bases of;the said T-'bars and having upturned edge-portions arrangedin parallelspaced relationto the stemsof the T- bars, and. a transverse-cap foreach carline, each cap including a restricted-channelzpors tionembracing and rigidly secured nto: the freeedge. of'the stem'of itsrespective .carline, an intermediate portion including sidesparal lcl tobutspaced from the stem ofthe.carline,-. and outwardly turnedsedgeportionsuengage the offset inclined portionsiof-the' roofing s eet.-

5.:A flexible car roof including inrcome bination carlines formed of.inverted: T-bars; roofing sheets arranged between: said .oarlines;

said roofing sheets having upturned edge portions arranged in spacedrelation to the stems of the said T-bars, and a transverse cap for eachcarline, each cap including a restricted portion embracing and rigidlysecured to the free edge of the stem of its respective carline at pointsintermediate the ridge and the eaves of the car and an intermediateportion including sides spaced from the stem of the carline andinclosing the said upturned edge portions of the roofing sheets.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

EDWIN G. FRANCK.

